CV Howlers: What NOT to write on your CV

A survey by Corinne Mills, leading UK careers adviser and Managing Director
of career coaching experts Personal Career Management, has found that a staggering 98 per cent of job applicants are reducing their
chances of success significantly through poor spelling, grammar or presentation
on their CVs.

These errors have lead to a number of alarming disclosures, such as being “A
director with a strong breath”, or, perhaps fresh from watching Sweeny Todd,
“Baker, working on ovens and customers”.

Then there is the potentially eye catching applicant who writes that “I’m
looking manly for an IT role” followed by the baffling “Everything I do must be
done in Safeway”. The mind boggles! Another which completely confused was the
candidate who had “designed and developed a stapler that was capable to staple
up to 30 sheets of paper in 2002”. Who knows how many sheets it can staple in
2013?

More job candidate attempts to impress potential employers failed as a
result of poor phrasing and inappropriate language such as the rebel who says he’s
“Responsible for drug abuse, alcohol and antisocial behaviour”. He’s
clearly not an immediate asset for any employer. Perhaps more suitable is the
applicant who proudly announces “I don’t consummate alcohol”.

Out of 500 CVs surveyed we discovered over 90% had errors in spelling
or grammar, and 25% of those were badly presented. Other examples
of mistakes uncovered in the study include the bombastic “Brought in by
American company to take control of the UK”, the frightening “I am self discipline”
and the most egocentric of all, “Promoted to Head of I”.

We should also celebrate the cutting edge thespian who boasted of being
“President of Drama Society and acted in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Othello”.

When asked about key strengths, one applicant merely replied “Broad”.
Another could have landed himself in court claiming that he was “A candidate
with a sold academic record”.

The final two selected here are examples of being both inaccurate and
unnecessary. “My top 5 clients in the past year have been…” and then a list
of eight clients. Secondly, “I speak fluent German language to a working
level”.

Mistakes were not confined to applicants for junior roles either. Over 50%
of the applications looked at were drafted by CEOs, professionals and
recent graduates.

With the UK facing the toughest job market for decades, it is now more
important than ever to ensure your CV shows that you would be capable of
doing the job you apply for, and that means no unnecessary mistakes.

Corinne is the author of
bestselling CV book, ‘You’re Hired! How to write a brilliant CV’ which has just
been updated including a new chapter looking at how to maximize the benefits of
LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and other social channels. Here are her golden
rules for writing your CV:

Check: Check, double-check and then get someone else to check your CV
to ensure there are no mistakes.

Never rely on spell check. Public and pubic are both spelt correctly and
will both pass a spell check but may not convey precisely the meaning you were
hoping for on a CV.

Visuals: Ensure that your CV looks good using a clear, consistent
style that is visually pleasing and makes the information easy to read. When a
photograph is requested as part of the interview process, including a holiday
snap from Ibiza is unlikely to impress, yet you would be astonished at the
number of people who do this. Smiley faces or similar are equally
inappropriate.

Watch your language!: Include content that is relevant to the job in
question providing examples to back up your statements. Use language that is
concise rather than jargon-heavy.

Notes to Editors:

The UK’s bestselling CV book, ‘You’re Hired! How
to write a brilliant CV’, has just been updated and provides essential reading
to create the best possible CV for the job you want, whether you’re just
starting out or moving your career forward. This book guides you through the
preparation process to identify your most relevant skills and experiences for
the position you are applying for. Filled with real-life examples and practical
advice on how to address tricky career challenges and use your CV to stand out
from the competition, this is an indispensable guide for job hunters.

Request a call

By submitting this enquiry, you confirm you have had the opportunity to read and understand our Privacy Policy.

1Tick here to opt in to receive updates on our products and services, exciting new offers and latest career tips. Please note your details will not be shared with third parties and you can opt-out at any time.

Email this page to a friend

Your Name (required)

Friend's Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Friend's Email (required)

Your Message

By submitting this enquiry, you confirm you have had the opportunity to read and understand our Privacy Policy.

1Tick here to opt in to receive updates on our products and services, exciting new offers and latest career tips. Please note your details will not be shared with third parties and you can opt-out at any time.